If there is one thing our world is lacking it is patience. No one wants to wait for anything. We quickly get frustrated when someone or something interferes with our plans to attain our goals now. And we especially get frustrated with people. Who wants to mess with someone who is taking too long to understand our point of view or who just doesn’t fit into our lifestyle? It’s much easier to write them off and move to the next person.

Thankfully, this is not the way Jesus is. He has perfect love and perfect patience for each individual on this earth. We never have to worry that the Lord will become frustrated with our slow progress in a certain area. He has our best interest at heart and will patiently continue to discipline us for the purpose of growth. When we belong to Him He promises to establish our hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ with all the saints (1 Thessalonians 3:13). He is faithful and will bring this to pass by patiently working with us through all of our weaknesses and setbacks.

The Lord is also patient with those who have not received Him as Savior. He desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. Though men continue to reject God’s salvation, He patiently waits and works to give them opportunity to come to Him. There is no one who is too old or too far gone to receive the grace and mercy that God offers. As long as a person is still living on the earth they have the opportunity to turn to the Lord for forgiveness and cleansing from sin. He is waiting and watching with perfect patience for all who would come to Him.

Paul assures us that this is true. He had personal experience with God’s patience for He considered himself the worst of sinners. This aggressive young man was a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent aggressor. He searched out Christians and ripped them from their homes, beating them and throwing them into prison. Yet God demonstrated perfect patience by confronting him on the Damascus Road. He showed mercy and turned Paul’s life around. He became the greatest missionary we have ever known, and all of our lives have been touched by his influence.

When the world presses us into it’s mold of impatience and when we are tempted to become frustrated with others or ourselves, keep in mind this example of the Lord’s perfect patience. He did not give up on the most violent persecutor of Christians. In fact, he stopped him while conducting a terrible rampage against God’s children and turned His life around.

This perfect patience is also extended towards you. So don’t give up on yourself or others who you are praying will come to know Christ. The world may be lacking in patience, but God never runs out. His patience is perfect!

James 1:4 “And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

It is part of the human nature to rush through things. Whether it is a good meal, our homework, or even a life experience, we are conditioned to hurry up, get it done, and move on to the next thing. But there is so much we miss when this is our mode of operation. Some things just have to be done slowly.

I found this out when I started to do some light weightlifting. I heard that women my age should spend some time strengthening their muscles in order to keep the body working properly and to ward off diseases like osteoporosis, so I searched through the closet and found my hand weights. Since this is not my favorite activity, I figured I would just get it done quickly every day. I found a book of exercises and proceeded to pump my way through them as fast as I could – let’s face it, it is easier to lift the weights when you have some momentum behind you.

Then Dad explained to me the proper procedure. If you want to see the best results, it is important not to rush. After warming up, move the weights in an unhurried and controlled fashion. Work the target muscles using a full range of motion when exercising. Breathe deeply and rest between repetitions. This is not the easy way, but it’s the best way to get more out of your workout program and grow stronger. Consistency and endurance produce results.

In a similar way we mature spiritually as we work our way through various trials. It is tempting to find an easy out when difficulties come our way. Often our first thought is, “How can I escape this problem, and fast?” It can be tempting to take any shortcut we can find even if it means compromising in areas where we shouldn’t. We may tend to rely on our natural pattern of handling things instead of seeking God’s wisdom and persevering through the situation by faith.

Though we should not go looking for trials, James tells us that when they do come we should consider it pure joy. This doesn’t mean that the experience is fun, but we can be encouraged by knowing that through the crisis our faith will be strengthened. Sometimes our heartaches and sadness can last a long time. Often our prayers are not answered immediately, but the man or woman who endures and waits patiently for God to act will never be disappointed. This person will be stronger in faith when the next set of trials appear.

So guess what? I have started slowing down my weightlifting reps. It is not as easy this way, but I know if I persevere my muscles and bones will thank me. Who knows – as my endurance grows stronger, whether through trials or heavier weights I might even find joy in the process – especially as I experience the good results.

Psalm 37:3. “Trust in the Lord and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.” (NASB)

Waiting is a difficult thing. It takes a lot of patience and trust. In our culture this is not a a virtue that we have mastered. We live in an instant world – instant potatoes, instant cash, instant service at drive through food chains. We become peeved if we have to wait a second longer than expected.

This frustrating passive action of waiting is often what God allows into our lives to teach us patience, and God-reliance and to spiritually mature us. His timetable is rarely ours and He will not rush. So many times in the Bible God instructs us to wait, but often it feels like watching for the teapot to boil. We begin to wonder if He will ever come through. This is not the attitude that pleases God. How, then, do we wait for the Lord?

Recently, while waiting and watching for the Lord to answer some of my prayers I discovered today’s verse. I have not been able to stop thinking about it as I have pondered God’s delay and wondered what I should do while waiting. He reminded me of four things: (1) Trust Me; (2) Do good; (3) Dwell in the land; and (4) Cultivate faithfulness .

Trust Him: More than anything God wants us to trust Him. Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please God, for he that comes to God must believe that He is and that He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” While waiting God wants us to keep trusting – never doubting. In due time He will come through in ways that we never imagined.

Do Good: We need to have the right uncomplaining attitude as we wait. We must always be listening for His voice and willing to do whatever He puts before us no matter how menial. In this way we glorify Him before others.

Live in the Land: Some have used the expression “bloom where you are planted.” Wherever God has put us and whatever our hand finds to do for the moment, do it heartily as for the Lord. In this way we will bless others and He will be honored.

Cultivate Faithfulness: Some versions translate this as trusting in the Lord’s faithfulness, and this is certainly true. But as I read it, I couldn’t help but think of how we, also, need to cultivate faithfulness in our own lives. Just as a gardner must regularly weed, water, and cultivate his garden if he wants to harvest produce worth keeping, so too, we must develop this quality if we want to experience God’s blessing in our lives.

Are you waiting on anything from the Lord? Trust Him patiently, keep a good and expectant attitude, keep productive while living in the land where you have been placed and cultivate faithfulness with whatever He has asked you to do. In due time the teapot will boil, the garden will produce, and God will always come through.

Ephesians 4:2-3. “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”

I chuckled as I watched the little balls of fur roll around on the concrete patio. One second they were a blur of yellow, black & white wrestling with passion and the next second the yellow was pouncing through the air trying to catch a fly while the black, brown & white was burrowing beneath the hostas along the porch.

They were so cute and lovable that I just wanted to cuddle them on the porch swing. I stepped through the storm door and reached to pick one up when their playful attitudes immediately changed. Both kittens backed away hissing and spitting. The hair on their backs stood up on end and they looked like little porcupines. I was so disappointed and hurt. Why would they do that to me? Didn’t they like me?

There are times when people do not treat us as we would like. Sometimes when approached they will clam up, spit sharp words at us, or turn their backs making us wonder what we did wrong. It is tempting to react in anger when this happens, judging the words and actions without knowing the reason for the affront. By responding in kind, we typically will only escalate the tension and the problem is not alleviated.

But when we respond in a humble and gentle way, patiently bearing with one another in love, we will often find that we are not the source of the problem. Usually there is another more serious issue that is upsetting the person causing them to snap at us. In taking the initiative to respond kindly, we may have opportunity to encourage and help someone who needs it.

I understand why my kittens hissed at me. They had been through a terrible trauma only days before. When the tornado came through they were displaced from their mother in the storm and who knows what happened to them and what they suffered in the terrific winds. When the rescuers found them they were terrified and it took time for them to feel safe. By waiting patiently and giving them loving care they eventually came to realize that I only wanted to love and help them.

Next time someone snaps at you, humbly hold back your retort. Bear with them patiently in love. They will eventually come around.

Love,

Mama

Welcome to Verses From Mama. Open these letters and receive words of truth, healing and hope written to all who long for a mama’s touch. ~Sandy